Creating a Skilled Workforce is the Need of the Hour for a Developed India: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis

Mumbai, June 2026 : Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has emphasized that building a skilled and technology-ready workforce is essential for realizing the vision of Developed India 2047. He said the rapid emergence of transformative technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), semiconductors, and quantum computing is reshaping the employment landscape, making it imperative to equip young people with future-ready skills.

The Chief Minister was speaking at the Youth for Development (Y4D) event titled “India @ 2047 – Power of Skill and Education” held at Hotel Taj President in Mumbai.

The programme was attended by Public Works Minister Shivendrasinhraje Bhosale, Y4D President Prafull Nikam, and leaders from various industry groups.

Skills Key to India’s Growth Story

Fadnavis noted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has emerged as the world’s fourth-largest economy and is on track to become the third-largest economy in the near future. He highlighted that nearly 250 million people have been lifted out of extreme poverty through sustained efforts in infrastructure development, housing, sanitation, and livelihood generation.

He stressed that skill development would play a crucial role in Maharashtra’s ambition of becoming a one-trillion-dollar economy. According to him, transforming India’s demographic advantage into economic strength requires large-scale access to quality skill training and education.

Technology-Driven Agriculture

The Chief Minister also highlighted the state’s efforts to integrate technology into agriculture. He said the Maharashtra government has developed the “Mahavistar” application, powered by artificial intelligence, to support farmers with information related to crop management, weather forecasts, pest control, and irrigation practices.

The application is available in multiple languages and is helping deliver technology-driven solutions directly to millions of farmers, making agricultural advisory services more accessible and effective.

Future of Jobs Changing Rapidly

Fadnavis pointed out that the nature of nearly 70 per cent of jobs is expected to change within the next 1,000 days due to technological advancements. In light of these developments, he said governments, industries, and social organisations must work together to equip youth with the skills and knowledge required in a rapidly evolving economy.

He stressed the importance of creating an ecosystem that enables young people to adapt to emerging technologies and seize new employment opportunities.

Role of CSR and Social Partnerships

The Chief Minister also praised the contribution of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives in areas such as water security, healthcare, and skill development. He said organisations like Y4D have played an effective role in ensuring that these initiatives reach grassroots communities.

According to Fadnavis, Y4D has built a credible track record of socially impactful work over the past eleven years and has emerged as an important bridge between corporate partners and local communities.

Focus on Measuring Impact

He commended Y4D’s approach of assessing the actual social impact of projects rather than merely focusing on the signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs). The Chief Minister described the concept of publishing impact reports as innovative and urged other CSR partner organisations to adopt similar practices to evaluate the effectiveness of their initiatives.

During the event, impact reports highlighting the outcomes of various industry-led partnership projects were released.

Fadnavis congratulated the participating industry groups and the Y4D organisation for their contributions toward social transformation and reiterated that skill development, education, and technology-driven empowerment will be central to India’s journey toward becoming a developed nation by 2047.